Welcome to the Short Stories portal for English 12!
MR. MCLEAN EMAIL: tmcleanenglish@gmail.com If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to send me an email!
HANDOUTS AND ASSIGNMENTS:
NOTE:BLOCK B - The date for writing our literary response has changed from Friday April 17th to Tuesday April 21st. Use this extra time well!
LITERARY RESPONSE QUESTIONS:
1. What is the significance of a name? Many of the characters in these stories do not have explicit names. How do names, or a lack thereof, contribute to the formation of identity in these characters? Compare and contrast the presence and purpose of names in twoof our short stories.
2. Discuss the role of the outsider in relation to culture or race. Consider the relationship between the individual and the community and the power structures that exist within these texts. Compare and contrast the role of the outsider in two of our short stories.
3. How is gender constructed and maintained in these texts? Consider the cultural expectations for men and women along with ideals of masculinity and femininity. Compare and contrast the representation of gender in two of our short stories.
(NOTE ABOUT GUIDING QUESTIONS) The guiding questions are to be answered as a reference for our book circles, to inform your thoughts and ideas before we discuss these themes as a class. The answers do not have to be written down (as they won’t truly be handed in), but if writing potential answers down helps inform your thinking, even to serve as some notes during the book circle, then I would recommend putting something down on paper just to help jog your memory in class. The guiding questions really serve as beginning points to jump into greater discussion, so as long as you’re thinking about them during your reading, and ready to speak about them in class, then you should be well prepared for the book circle.
ENGLISH 12 - Short Stories Unit (Mr. McLean)
Welcome to the Short Stories portal for English 12!
MR. MCLEAN EMAIL: tmcleanenglish@gmail.comIf you have any questions or concerns please feel free to send me an email!
HANDOUTS AND ASSIGNMENTS:
NOTE: BLOCK B - The date for writing our literary response has changed from Friday April 17th to Tuesday April 21st. Use this extra time well!
LITERARY RESPONSE QUESTIONS:
1. What is the significance of a name? Many of the characters in these stories do not have explicit names. How do names, or a lack thereof, contribute to the formation of identity in these characters? Compare and contrast the presence and purpose of names in twoof our short stories.
2. Discuss the role of the outsider in relation to culture or race. Consider the relationship between the individual and the community and the power structures that exist within these texts. Compare and contrast the role of the outsider in two of our short stories.
3. How is gender constructed and maintained in these texts? Consider the cultural expectations for men and women along with ideals of masculinity and femininity. Compare and contrast the representation of gender in two of our short stories.
Video on how to write a comparative essay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvMSeg1s7uc
*Pay close attention to ensure you have the right syllabus for your block, as each block will have a slightly different schedule during this unit*
(NOTE ABOUT GUIDING QUESTIONS) The guiding questions are to be answered as a reference for our book circles, to inform your thoughts and ideas before we discuss these themes as a class. The answers do not have to be written down (as they won’t truly be handed in), but if writing potential answers down helps inform your thinking, even to serve as some notes during the book circle, then I would recommend putting something down on paper just to help jog your memory in class. The guiding questions really serve as beginning points to jump into greater discussion, so as long as you’re thinking about them during your reading, and ready to speak about them in class, then you should be well prepared for the book circle.
Online versions of Short Stories:
BOOK CIRCLES:
BLOCK G
Book Circle Sign-Up:
Book Circle Facilitator and Note Taker Sign-Up:
BOOK CIRCLE 1
March 27th
Short Story:
“Battle Royal”
Border of Focus:
Race/Ethnicity
March 31st
Short Story:
“Boys and Girls”
Border of Focus:
Gender Roles
April 2nd
Short Story:
“Boys and Girls”
Border Focus:
Coming of Age
April 8th
Short Story:
“D’Sonoqua”
Border of Focus:
Culture
April 10th
Short Story:
“A Very Old Man
With Enormous Wings”
Border of Focus:
Realism
BLOCK B
Book Circle Sign-Up:
Book Circle Facilitator and Note Taker Sign-Up:
BOOK CIRCLE 1
March 30th
Short Story:
“Battle Royal”
Border of Focus:
Race/Ethnicity
April 1st
Short Story:
“Boys and Girls”
Border of Focus:
Gender Roles
April 7th
Short Story:
“Boys and Girls”
Border Focus:
Coming of Age
April 9th
Short Story:
“D’Sonoqua”
Border of Focus:
Culture
April 13th
Short Story:
“A Very Old Man
With Enormous Wings”
Border of Focus:
Realism
MEDIA AND RESOURCES:
The Irresistible Rise Of The Short Story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10831961/The-irresistible-rise-of-the-short-story.html
Neil Gaiman Article - "Face Facts: We Need Fiction": http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/24/neil-gaiman-face-facts-need-fiction
How Can Fiction Change the World? Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctaPAm14L10
Mining Literature for Deeper Meaning Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eREopphW5Bw
Reading Fiction Improves Empathy Study:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2013/oct/08/literary-fiction-improves-empathy-study
Race/Ethnicity Resources: